Plans in for North Western Hall hotel conversion

A planning application has been submitted to return North Western Hall next to Liverpool Lime Street station back into a hotel.

The Grade II-listed building, which for the last 22 years has been used as student accommodation, was originally part of the founding family of ‘grand railway hotels’.

North West-based contractor and developer Worthington Properties first announced its vision for the Alfred Waterhouse-designed building in February.

The firm has now applied for planning permission and listed building consent for the change of use of the building from student accommodation to a hotel.

A new hotel concept

Under the proposals, the new hotel would provide 202 rooms over six levels, to the top of the building, with meeting space, and a bar and restaurant below.

According to the planning application submitted to Liverpool City Council, the as yet unnamed hotel operator has a “new concept” for the building, focused on “meeting the particular requirements of the millennial generation with an emphasis on informal service, technology and design”.

The application adds: “Amongst other things, the brand offers events and games studios as well as spaces to showcase the best of local talent in art, design and music.”

External alterations

A document included with the application notes that the design to re-develop the building back into a hotel is “not as straight forward as it sounds”.

External alterations to the building are described as “limited”, however some alterations are required including the replacement of the existing windows with “sympathetic replacements” and the installation of a sliding door system at the main entrance.

Now in the ownership of the Worthington Group, it’s expected North Western Hall will be returned to its former status as a hotel by mid-2019.